The Thug Seme of Arcturus Novus is a colossal, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Emperor Iacobus Oryza Iosephus with a fair hand, and renowned for its ritual sacrifices, unlimited-speed roads, and daily referendums. The hard-nosed, democratic, cheerful, devout population of 7.185 billion Arcturans are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The enormous, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Social Policy, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Urbs Oryzarum. The average income tax rate is 93.5%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Arcturan economy, worth 864 trillion Arcturan Credits a year, is highly specialized and mostly made up of the Book Publishing industry, with significant contributions from Tourism. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 120,252 Arcturan Credits, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Government crews work tirelessly to retake the suburbs from organized packs of raccoons, criminals are put to death while cuddling their favourite teddy bear, bombs are permitted on planes for the 'security of the passengers', and Emperor Iacobus Oryza Iosephus claims to be the epitome of family values. Crime is totally unknown. Arcturus Novus's national animal is the felhound, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Chaos Undivided.